A new look at an old story...

While creating JacobsWell I got a new look at an old story. It is the story of the woman at the well in John 4. The well, once belonging to Jacob was given to Joseph with the surrounding land as part of his inheritance. During Jesus’ time the city of Samaria was built near the well. The well was known for its cool refreshing waters that came from underground springs deep beneath the earth and was frequented by many a wearied traveler looking for a respite from the hot dry land. It is my desire you find a cool cup of encouragement and a respite at my version of JacobsWell.

The woman comes to draw water every day. She arrives around the 6th hour of the day. Noon, the sun is high; most would have come and gone in the coolness of the morning perhaps her shame and notoriety bring her in the heat of the days to lessen the chances of encountering another.

In the days of Jesus, Jews did not speak to Samaritans. Men were not permitted to address women. And rabbis had no business speaking to shady ladies such as the woman at the well. But that afternoon Jesus has other things on His mind than the customs of the day. He was thinking of the Kingdom.

Jesus begins with things familiar and accessible. He speaks first; He asks…“Will you give me water?” Her response is focused on things of what she knew, the well, the law … “How can you ask me for a drink?”

But Jesus’ response was focused on grace as He extends a tantalizing invitation….“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

His offer is the same today as it was then, He is offering life…. Life with a new reality, one that is not of the world…He is introducing her to a ‘Kingdom Mentality.’

What is Kingdom Mentality? It is an understanding that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts; nor God’s ways our ways. Kingdom order is reversed beginning with the order of the day. Gregorian calendar days begin with morning; God created days beginning with sunset. We rest to go to work…God works out of rest. That is why God created Adam on the 6th day so when Adam woke up He could rest in the Lord. Everything is already accomplished in heaven; on earth we work to bring heaven on earth.

The first shall be last, blessed are those who are persecuted for His Name, and in dying you receive life are just a few Kingdom concepts that require a Kingdom mentality to understand.

Kingdom mentality was made apparent as He meets her with grace offering Living Water, a new concept one not of this world. Not yet comprehending, her response is of this world….”you have nothing to draw with, the well is deep”.

As He explains she will never be thirsty again; she asks for this water but is still thinking on the only plane of existence she knows; “give me this water so I won’t have to keep coming here to draw from this well.” Nevertheless in her acceptance she has made room for the new.

The only way to prepare the soil of the heart for seed is to plow it with conviction. Filled with grace He addresses her directly and personally. So, He meets her where she is without condemnation and tells her about herself. He goes to her biggest downfall, her deepest sin, her shame –
“You have had 5 husbands and the man you live with is not your husband…”

Her response is that of avoidance, she talks about worship and the Christ to come, but He persists and reveals Himself to her: “I who speak to you am HE.”

Immediately everything changes. Don’t you know that when Jesus is revealed everything changes?

The last revelation of Kingdom Mentality in this story has to do with humanity meeting the supernatural.

Remember Jesus had sent the disciples on to get food because He was so hungry and wearied from the morning’s travel He had to rest by the well. Yet, when the disciples return and urge Him to eat, Jesus’ reply was that He had food to eat that they knew nothing about. But did you catch what Jesus said His food was? “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work”

Jesus was clearly exhausted from the journey, He was hungry and thirsty yet now all the symptoms of fatigue were absorbed by Heaven. He was satisfied by accomplishing the Father’s work. The Will of God was His strength and satisfaction. Doing the Father’s Will fed Him and satisfied Him.

That is our work too, to do the will of the Father, to build the Kingdom of God. WE are to advance the Kingdom …We are the regional distributors of the Kingdom… The Kingdom is all about you………it is all about you because the Kingdom is in you!

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; He will meet you where you are and when He does you too will be changed. The woman at the well was changed and became the first woman evangelist. Do you know what He has for you?